Authentic Me Awaits

I've seen Him
The man that I am to become.
He doesn't wrestle with destiny.
He doesn't argue with identity.
Confident. Secure. Empowered.
EMBRACED.

There is no room for doubt in His thinking.
There is no hidden agenda to consume.
There is only rest.
Powerful. Peaceful. Plentiful. REST.

I've seen Him.
He calls to me in my failures.
He cheers for me in my struggles.
He beckons me forward into the everlasting.
Weights come crashing to the ground.

The journey continues.
Not who I was, but not content with who I am.
Determined towards transformation.
Renewing the mind once again.
I take in the moment.

Laughter? Of course.
Pain? There is some.
Discomfort? More than I want to admit.
Elation? More than I can express.
He will not let me settle. There is SO MUCH MORE!

My being is awash with reality.
My heart explodes within me.
Can I really fathom to believe?
Can I truly begin to live?
What could possibly hold me back?

Then there's that other voice.
His name changes but his vices still the same.
Pride. Arrogance. Safety. Uniformity. Religion. Etc.
He pulls. He scratches and claws. He gnashes his teeth.
Doubt shrouds him in the darkness where we once dwelt together.
He will not let go, and yet he cannot hold on.

The Awakening has happened.
The LIGHT has flooded in.
Authenticity breaths life to image and likeness.
Fear has no place here.
Steadfast Love and Faithfulness Meet.
Righteousness and Peace Kiss Each Other.
I am Undone. Redone. All in one fell swoop.

I see the Lord.
Laughing. Rejoicing. Anticipating the next step.
He is consumed with patience for me.
He has been more than willing to wait.
Encouraging. Speaking. Breathing New Life.
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE...
KEEP COMING...

Is this Solid Ground?
I feel the surety beneath me.
The mire is gone.
No more sinking. No more struggling.
Look at the gait in my step.
Can this be happening?

He calls to me again.
The man that I am becoming.
Seated in Heavenly Places, he reminds me of the view.
He challenges the smallness of my thinking.
He is so full of sight. My faith increases.

What changed you ask?
How did the journey become easier?
Grace. Faith. Love.
Incredible companions.
They never give up. They never look back. They are never disillusioned.
I am anchored within the veil.

There is more to come.
The Author and Finisher of Faith is still conforming me.
Authentic ME is being realized.
There was BLOOD. There was BREATH. Now there is BECOMING.
Full of Abundance. Full of Refreshment. Full of Life.

Enjoy the journey!

Where is Our Focus?

A close friend of mine made an incredible statement: "The Bible becomes the central focus of our church gatherings when a vibrant connection with the True and Living Word - the person of Jesus - is lost. The central them of Scripture is not Scripture itself. It is the Lord. Our gathering should center on the same." ~ Mark Durniak

We need to allow those words to sink in. We need to ask ourselves, "Where is Our Focus?" I realize that I do not speak for everyone. However, I have experienced the Worship Services of many, many, churches. Here's what I have gathered about the focus of many of them: Teaching, Singing, Giving, The Individual, and the list goes on. Just look at the "order of service" or what they spend much of their time focusing on. By the way, the fact that we call them services shows how far removed we have come in our understanding of Worship.

The purpose of the Body of Christ coming together is so the Head (Jesus) can be revealed. When Paul wrote the Corinthians about the proper use of Spiritual Graces (gifts), do you remember what he said about the prophetic? Look at 1 Corinthians 14:25, "falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is REALLY AMONG YOU." (emphasis mine). Who doesn't want this type of encounter? Who doesn't want to experience the person of Jesus in our midst? You may be surprised by some of the answers.

I have been around people who think that personal (and corporate) encounters are too subjective. It's this mentality that leads people to focus primarily upon the Bible and the teaching of it. As if that cannot be subjective! The reality is that many people (especially the leaders) are uncomfortable with encounters. It's much easier to control things in a service. You know...to ensure that everything is done "decently and in order." Which brings me to use of the word "service." As I looked up the word (which is used primarily as a noun) this is one of the definitions I came across: "public religious worship according to prescribed form and order. A ritual or form prescribed for public worship or for some particular occasion." Think about it.

The central them of Scripture is the Lord. Why would our gathering be any different? Imagine a worship gathering centered around the person of Jesus. Imagine our songs AND our singing. Imagine our encounters with Him AND with One Another. Imagine ALL of it right now - the way it is - with Him in the center. What would change? What would our experience look like? I'm not saying that the Lord would just wreck everything and make us start over. I'm simply saying that it would be VERY DIFFERENT.

I've been in this environment. I've seen this culture in worship. A moment is never wasted. Any sense of what the Lord is doing among us is shared. I've been a part of large and small gatherings of these people. They are very sensitive to the Lord in them and in others. They speak to this reality. They have a strong admiration and reverence for the Bible. They still preach and teach the Scriptures. But their focus is upon the person of Jesus. The Bible is just one of the ways in which He is revealed. The work of the Holy Spirit is honored. The love of the Father is as real as the people you are standing among. There is so much life.

I cannot point you to the time that everything changed. I've read books about the many changes in Christianity over the centuries, but to point to one thing isn't fair in my opinion. The point is that we have lost some things along the way. We've moved from the vibrant faith that we read about in the book of Acts. The sense of true community is not quite the same. It's understandable. We've left the homes in favor of big buildings. Those of us in the West don't understand the need for a faith family the way our persecuted Brothers and Sisters do. But I think the biggest change, probably the most destructive change in our approach to the faith, was moving towards the lone leader/speaker. I say this as a Pastor. Life within the church looks very different when multiple people share their experience in the Lord.

How do we change all of this? What is the cure? How can we move from the idea that the preaching is so central, that singing is the most important thing, or that the individual walking in the door needs to be taken care of first?
The Sunday School Answer: Jesus.
The Application: We Change Our Focus.
We determine in our hearts as leaders that Jesus will be the main attraction. Our songs will center upon Him. All that we do is way to magnify who He is among us. We make worship an encounter rather than a religious service. We keep Jesus the main thing.
As members of the Body we determine in our hearts that we gather to see Him, to experience Him, to love Him and one another. All that we do is a way to magnify who He is among us. We share in the encounter. We participate in Him.

The Holy Spirit will guide us in this endeavor. It's what He does. Guiding us into all Truth. Convincing us of the reality of all that Jesus did for us. Reminding us of the reality of His presence within. Highlighting the Lord's activity among us. Imagine the difference.

Honor, Love, & The One Another's

1 Peter 2:17, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." Sound simple enough?

Relationships matter. Therefore, how we relate to one another matters. The journey of faith that we find ourselves on is not an isolated journey. While we tend to look at our spiritual lives as a completely individual quest, the reality is that the Father wants us interconnected. Why else would Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, remind the believers that the entire law is fulfilled in this one command: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself? If the life of a follower of Christ was simply about my personal growth, my personal devotion, my personal holiness, etc., etc., then why do I need to love others? Why is honor to everyone deemed so important?

According to the the Talmud there are 613 commandments in the Torah. Some researchers have said that there are 248 positive commands (the do's) and 365 negative commands (the do not's). This is the culture that was present during the birth of the Church. There was strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and the Torah. Your relationship with God was centered around your ability to keep the Law. And I think what happened, what seemed to be present in Jesus' day, was that this need to fulfill the Law left little room for how we interacted with one another. Jesus spoke of the burdens that the religious leaders placed upon the people and how they were unwilling to lift a finger to help.

Honor to everyone and Love for the brotherhood emphasizes the spiritual nature of relationships. One another is no longer seen as something that is less than our relationship with the Father. In fact, love for one another is sourced in our love for Him. It flows from the same fountain. The shared life of the church reminds us of this necessity. How can we, according to John, love God whom we have not seen and curse those made in His image? It's impossible. If we cannot honor His image and likeness in the Earth then how could we possibly honor the Creator? It is not legal to separate the Divine Image from the Divine. If the entire law can be fulfilled through loving our neighbor as ourselves, it seems to me that we can no longer evaluate our faithfulness to the Lord simply through our performance toward Him.

This is where you should take some time to read through the "One Another's" of Scripture.
Love...
Honor...
Build Up...
Comfort...
Forgive...
Bear...Burdens
Encourage...
And the list goes on and on.
However, make sure you understand the "WHY?" of this approach to life. It isn't about fulfilling a Law. It is about embracing the culture of the Kingdom. It is the heart of the Father. For me to go deeper in Him does not mean that I neglect those around me. For me to enter into a higher sense of spirituality does not mean that I step on others. We need one another. Whatever experience I have in the Lord personally, I get to share corporately. It's a way of life that values others, esteems them better than myself, and honors who the Lord is in/through them. It's quite beautiful.

I'm sure much of this will sound ludicrous in a culture where right believing seems to trump right being. Much of Evangelical Christianity has been caught up in the Apologetics of the Faith rather than the simple Application of the Faith. So much times is wasted on those WITHIN the Body of Christ arguing, disagreeing, and splitting over theological matters. In the words of Jesus, I believe we have neglected the weightier matters. So what if I have a brother who views spiritual gifts differently than I do? What does it matter if our eschatology doesn't line up with one another? Who cares what they practice as it relates to food and drink? Why do we get so caught up in what version of the Bible they use, the style of worship they practice, or what denominational label they function under? How long will we continue to be so blind to our own version of truth?

The church was designed by the Father to be the visual representation of Christ on the Earth. WE. ARE. HIS. BODY. What the world sees in US is applied to HIM. What are they experiencing right now? How are they understanding the nature of God at this very moment? I guess it all depends on where they are getting their definition. Does that thought make anyone else uncomfortable? Does it bother you that people may be getting their definition of God from the Westboro crowd? What do you think are the effects upon people's thinking if they only hear from the Zionism groups? Some people may be hearing about a God who cannot wait to pour out His wrath and a Jesus who will personally slay millions of people. How does this shape their view? What if...? What if they encountered a Body of believers who HONORED EVERYONE, LOVED THE BROTHERHOOD, REVERED GOD, and HONORED THOSE IN AUTHORITY? What if they experienced IN US the very life of Christ?

Are you starting to understand why this matters? Are you beginning to see the significance of one another? Christianity was never about a list of do's and don'ts, nor was the Bible meant to be seen as a rule book. WHO we are, and WHO we are to one another matters. How we relate to one another needs to be important. The honor we bestow, the love that we share, and the affection we carry is vitally important. This is the life of Jesus on full display in us and through us.

What if we stopped measuring our spirituality by the hours we prayed and began to see it through the lens of how much we loved?
What if we stopped counting how many times we read through the Bible and began to consider how much honor we gave?
What if we stopped keeping a record of how many people we evangelized and began to recognize how much mercy we extended?
I'm not trading in one spiritual log for another, I'm simply asking that we change our approach. Our spiritual lives can no longer be evaluated by the record of my doing but by the quality of my BEING. If I say that I love God then I will love you. I will forgive you. I will give grace to you. I will extend mercy to you. I will do all of those things because of who I am in Him. This is His life being lived out in me.

It's a game changer. It will take time to develop. That is true for each of us. But I want you to imagine a life where other-centered love is at the core of our being. A life where fear no longer has a place among us. Where shame and condemnation are never used. There is GRACE for this type of life. Are you ready?

Thinking About Rich...

One of the most influential Christian Artists in the late 80's and early 90's was Rich Mullins. Mullins possessed incredible talent with strikingly honest lyrics. He's probably most popular for writing/recording "Awesome God." However, it's the story of the man himself that grabs my attention. He left us far too early, but his music and legacy remain with us today.

Rich's story is one we all need to hear. Struggling with identity, loneliness, and alcoholism would have finished most people. Thankfully, for Rich, he met a man by the name of Brennan Manning who helped him to really connect with the Abba of Jesus, forgive his earthly father, and find his place within the "Ragamuffin Gospel" (a teaching by Manning). There is no doubt that he was not your average artist. He never sought popularity. He simply wanted to share his music and his understanding of God. Rich never really knew how much money he made. He told an account manager to simply pay him an average salary in the U.S. for that year. The majority of his revenue from tours and sales went to various charities and the church.

Why am I talking about Rich? The truth is that I recently watched a movie that was based upon his life and career. I found myself heartbroken for him. His songs took on a new life. I could hear his honesty, feel his pain, and see into his struggles in the faith. Watching some of the scenes would have turned a lot of people off from Rich Mullins. But to be honest with you, I found myself with a greater respect for the man. He didn't hide who he was or what he struggled with in life. This vulnerability is almost unheard of in Christian circles. It's even more rare among those who have a platform.

While I cannot say that I agreed with everything the Rich said about God, I appreciated it. He simply shared where he was in his journey. I often wondered, if given the opportunity, if he would have changed some of the lyrics to awesome God had he written it later in life. How many of us could say the same thing? I have looked over sermons that I preached years ago and was almost embarrassed by some of the things I said. But it's where I was in the journey. It was real and authentic me in the moment. The revelation of God's love for us is ever unfolding. We are growing into it, awakening to it, and understanding more and more. Rich Mullins discovered this very love of God for himself. In the midst of his brokenness he found the Lord...or rather...the Lord found Him. The music he created shortly before his death revealed this reality.

I want to encourage you. I don't know what you may be dealing with. I don't know what struggles you are encountering. I don't know what problems you may be having in your relationships or your finances. These things matter very little in Jesus' ability to meet you. You can encounter Him right now in the midst of your pain. You can find Him in your wounds. You can hear Him speak to you when everything else seems to be consuming you. He is not as far from you as you might think.

As you consider this, I want you to read through the lyrics of one of my favorite Rich Mullins songs:

Hold Me Jesus

Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

The World Needs Fathers

Maybe it's where I am in my own journey, or maybe I'm just picking up on it: The Word Needs Fathers.
How many of us sat there during the Super Bowl commercials and noticed the recurring theme? There...on prime time television...during one of the most watched games of all sports....they were calling out. Toyota, Nissan, & Dove Men's Care were just a few of the commercials that pointed out the necessity of fatherhood.

Seeing those commercials, looking into our society, and paying attention to what is happening in many of the movies coming out today (the need for fathers) reminds me of Mack's conversation with Papa in The Shack: ‘… there are many reasons for that [revealing myself as Father], and some of them go very deep. Let me say for now that we knew once the Creation was broken, true fathering would be much more lacking than mothering.’ (p. 94). Fathers play such a significant role in the development of children. I heard somewhere that a Father is a son's first hero and a daughter's first love. Is it any wonder why the world is crying out for them?

Fathering has physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual ramifications. Father's help shape identity. They are seen as the main provider in the home. They bring a greater sense of security. Most of this sounds like common sense, but if you have ever talked with anyone who had an absent un-engaged father you will know where I'm coming from. Don't get me wrong. Mothers play a huge role in the development of children. We need their nurturing, their caring, their more delicate nature. While a Father speaks to a son or daughter's identity, the mother nurtures it. They work hand in hand. To be without either one in the home is a tragedy. Fathers provide a proper context for masculinity and femininity. What son doesn't want to be like his father? What daughter doesn't see an ideal to look for in a husband? Fathers, I'm talking to you. Are you listening?

Consider the change in our own approach to faith just by Jesus teaching us to pray "Our Father..." He brought a whole new dynamic to our lives. No longer can we legally view God as a distant deity. No longer can we see Him through the lens of a disapproving divinity. He is so much more. The Abba (Father) of Jesus is our Abba. Not absent. Not disengaged. Speaking to us, providing for us, and bringing security to us each and every day. There is something powerful, even transforming, about knowing Him as Father. The question you have to answer is "Why?"

I have a friend who spent the majority of his life distanced from his earthly father. He has shared stories with me about what it was like to grow up without that influence in his life. Even now as a husband and a father himself, he longs for that relationship. There is something deep within each and every one of us that cries out for a Father. This is where the church needs to pay attention. Week in and week out people show up to our gatherings. Many of them are carrying the wounds left by a parent. Many of them have struggled to understand God based upon a miserable experience with their own Mom or Dad. They need us to be Fathers. They need us to speak into the hurt, the broken spots, and the mistaken identities. We have an opportunity every day to reach out to someone who never experienced the love of a Father.

Fathers provide a lens through which children understand the nature of our Heavenly Father. They need for us to see them for who they are. They need us to speak to their identity. They need us to teach them what it means to be a son and/or a daughter. I cannot stress this enough. We shape them. We direct them. We give confidence to them. Can you hear them calling?

I'm grateful to pastor a church where so many men - strong men - are a part of the fellowship. Whenever I have people from out of town come and visit with us, they are amazed. Their presence alone speaks volumes. A questioning world is intrigued by the presence of strong men. Wives are given great comfort by the presence of their husbands. Children begin to see the church in a whole new light when the men are a part of the fellowship. We dare not understate it nor dismiss it.

Many of you probably saw the Courageous movie. It speaks to this phenomenon more than I ever could. However, I want us to understand the spiritual implications of this. I want us to see Fathering not as a responsibility but an opportunity of shaping the next generation. Allow the children to see you worship, to hear you pray, and to enjoy your story. Allow the world to take notice of strong Fathers who love the Lord, their families, and their fellowship. Fathers being all in, being engaged fully, and participating in the Koinonia has such an impact in the Spirit. It's difficult to explain but easy to feel. There is a weightiness that the men bring with them.

I have no doubt that many of the men reading this blog right now are engaged in their families. You are probable an active member in your fellowship. I'm not hear to demean any of it. I'm here as a voice. A voice that says "I SEE YOU!" You are making a difference. And as we bring other men along on this journey, we will see a reawakening in the family, in society, and in the church. We need you all. The sons are waiting.

Moving Forward

1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Intentionality does not mean perfection. It simply means that I do not give up. As much as I would love to say that being intentional has kept me from making mistakes, has stopped me from having the wrong attitude, or allowed me to never say the wrong thing; the truth of the matter is that I still fall short in my behavior. What I do not do is allow a stumble in the road to stop the journey. Moving forward is the only option. Like the Apostle Paul, "I press toward the mark..." I know who I am in Christ, but I am continually looking for the manifestation of it in my life. I think this is what sets people apart. They understand that failure happens within Him not outside of Him. He's with me on every leg of the journey.

Always abounding. Have you ever considered the possibility of those words in your personal life? I realize that Paul is speaking to the church regarding their part in the Kingdom, however, I see incredible potential for those words to be fulfilled in our personal lives. Think about it. Why can't the work of the Lord be your family? What if the work of the Lord right now in your life has to do with your relationships? Any area of your life that He is leading you to give careful attention IS His work. Abound in it. Bring it to excess, to overflowing, to abundance. Don't be satisfied with anything less. Be grateful for what you have in these areas but see the potential of what it could be.

When quitting isn't an option, abounding is the only solution. I have seen too many people give up when it seems hard, walk away when it seems as though they just cannot get it together, or lay down in frustration. Have you ever wondered why people go back to destructive behavior? The familiarity of those choices and the shame associated with it can actually become a comfortable place. Why do you think Paul instructed the church to be steadfast and immovable before they could abound in the work of the Lord? There has to be some grit to us. There has to be some intestinal fortitude. I will not give up. I will not back down. I will see this through.

This is a long journey. From start to finish will take a lifetime. We get so caught up in seeing through a short term lens. When things don't happen the way we think they should, we simply move on to something else. I get it. Pressing forward is not always gratifying. Living in a results oriented society, it is much easier to think there is a better way. However, there are just some things that only pay off with time. Some things that can only be measured at a certain distance.

What I said yesterday about the grace of God and living intentionally did not happen overnight. Don't get me wrong, there were some immediate benefits in how I saw myself and everyone around me; but the reality is that I'm just now seeing the long term effects. Anyone who has gone through a recovery program would understand this. Consistency, Intentionality, and Persistence are needed to see things through. The more my family encounters the changes I have gone through, the greater their response. Think about it in these terms: Let's say that I was an abusive husband and father. Something happens that brings me to a place where I want to change my ways. How long will it take for my wife to trust me? How long before my kids stop covering up every time I raise my hand? How long before I stop yelling? There is no timetable. Only the consistent and intentional moving forward can bring the healing we want to see.

I know people who have learned about our identity in Christ but never reaped the benefits. It was much easier for them to step back into a performance mentality. There was much more gratification in measuring their so called accomplishments in the other way of doing life. They didn't see a change initially so they gave up. The grace of God is not necessarily a quick fix. It takes time to learn to draw from this well consistently. There is a lot of unlearning involved. All you can do is learn from your mistakes, forgive yourself, and keep moving forward. Walking with Him will prove to you that this is the greatest way to do life. Give yourself time. This is where you learn what it means to rest in Him.

REST. You know what this is don't you? It's the willingness to trust completely. It's the faith that He who began a good work in you will complete it. It's never resorting to self-righteousness but allowing His righteousness to come out. It's not a lack of activity, it's just believing that what He did truly carries over into our lives. It keeps us firm and secure in the relationship. It means accepting that I am who He says that I am and living from that place. The more we learn how to rest, the greater the peace that we carry, and the easier it becomes to work out what He has worked within us.

I may get it all right today. Then again...I may blow it. I don't stop. I apologize. I ask for forgiveness. I learn from my mistakes. I rely on His grace to overcome this character defect, this bad habit, or this destructive behavior. I feel His strength rising up. I move forward. One step at a time. One day at a time. I'm conforming into His image. This is the journey. This is what walking with Him looks like. I don't need to run and hide in the bushes. I don't need to make some kind of covering for my mistakes. He seeks me out in them. He calls me to Himself. He teaches me how to carry the nature of a son. And when you learn how to live life this way, it's breathtaking. He is that good.

Intentionality

Over the course of 20+ years of walking with Christ I have gone through several studies. I have learned what it means to Experience God, to possess the Mind of Christ, to Make Peace with My Past, and what it means to live in a Culture of Honor. All wonderful studies. All meaningful milestones in my life. However, what I have learned in these studies did not change me. It's what I did with what I learned that made all the difference.

Intentionality is a way of life. I have known people who possessed great knowledge of the Bible but struggled to see a difference in their lives. Men and Women who had been in church for many years who often spoke of their continued struggles translating what they say they believed into a present reality of life. Experiencing God seemed to be an once in a blue moon occasion. His silence was deafening, and their faith was waning. They failed to see Him in every day life. Feeling His love for them seemed to be tied to how well they performed. A vicious cycle of mountain tops and valleys. Steady growth in Him was about as successful as trying to nail jello to a wall.

I thought this type of life was normal. I believed the ups and downs were simply a part of it all. What I did not realize is that I was trapping myself into a mindset. A mindset of failure. A mindset of mediocrity. This forced me to do the only thing I knew to do: I worked harder. Things never really changed but the idea of achieving some sort of higher spirituality kept me moving. It's funny how busyness gives us a sense of self-satisfaction.

Enter GRACE. Discovering that grace was the empowerment of God upon my life changed everything. I found His grace to be sufficient even in my weakness. I entered into a mindset of success. A mindset of consistency. This forced me to do the only thing I knew to do: LIVE INTENTIONALLY. Since the grace of God was always upon my life, there was never a need to resort to my own strength. I found within myself the ability to love, to forgive, to experience a higher spirituality if you will. No longer wrapped up in busyness, I found myself simply resting in Him.

What was I intentional about? I was intent to continually believe that He was enough. His finished work, His grace, His mercy, His Spirit dwelling inside me, it was all enough. I stopped comparing my life to others. I found a contentment that I never knew before. I also experienced a hunger to go deeper in this identity that I did not believe was possible.

I believe the grace of God is the life we were always meant to live. A life that is secure in relationship with our Creator. Walking with Him. Talking with Him. Gaining strength from this bond. Hearing Him speak life over us and to us. This is a reality that we should experience. It's not a life set aside for the super spiritual. You have to understand that. When I experienced this Grace Awakening in my own life, I felt that I was at one of my lowest points. Inconsistency seemed to dominate me. Ups and downs were a part of my normal experience. My wife and kids never got the best of me. The grace of God at work in me changed all of that.

What if you believed you were truly loved by God unconditionally?
What if you believed that grace was an ever present gift in your life?
What if you believed that in Him you truly live, you move, and you have your being?
What if you believed that love wasn't a fleeting emotion but a choice?
All of these things you already possess. Experiencing them as a reality doesn't happen accidentally.

Intentionality is the key you are looking for to unlock this life. Intentionally believing. Intentionally speaking life into yourself and others. Intentionally loving. Intentionally being present everywhere you find yourself. All In - All The Time. Enjoy the journey.

Koinonia - Drawing From the Well

Philemon 6, "That the KOINONIA (fellowship, participation, community, sharing, etc.) of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ."

The picture that you are looking at is the best description that I can give concerning the experiences of this past weekend. I'm allowing you to gaze into raw emotion. A personal moment between myself, my good friend Mark, and the Lord. As we embraced, heart to heart, you could literally feel the Lord weaving our hearts together. This is what we share. This is the culture we long to cultivate. This is the reason for our Koinonia together. It's an endeavor that is not satisfied with just one church or one group of people experiencing this type of life. We believe this is what the Kingdom should look like among all of our brothers and sisters.

Over the past few months I have longed to see our people grow in their understanding, and experience, of Koinonia. I have preached, taught, and written about the value of our shared life together. Personally, I have also done what I could to demonstrate it. This weekend our people got a full on view of how this culture operates. Our leadership along with some personal friends received some personal ministry time that was amazing. But then on Sunday morning, our Pioneer Family was able to experience it on a whole new level.

The anticipation among our people was thick. As we gathered together you could feel the energy around us. The presence of the Lord was strong as He was cheering on our endeavor. When the singing portion of our gathering drew to a close, Mark, Randy, and yours truly took to the stage. We sat among our people and shared our hearts. One building upon the other. Honor given. Honor received. We spoke of the value of this culture and the biblical understanding of it. We challenged the people to go deeper, to look deeper, and to share deeper with one another. We exemplified this life before them. We watched as the Lord began healing hearts all around us.

Paul's letter to Philemon provides incredible insight into Koinonia's ability to draw out every good thing that is in us. He tells us that our shared life, our community, our joint participation, is effective for the full knowledge of the well that is within everyone of us. This is quite different from the church culture many of us have experienced. Some have come out of prophetic backgrounds where prophecy was used to tell you what was wrong in your life. Some grew up in the "your a dirty, rotten, sinful creature" background where there was nothing good in you at all. Rarely have people been able to view themselves as the creation of God bearing His image and likeness. Rarely has anyone looked deep enough into their lives to draw out who the Lord is in them. True, biblical, Koinonia is the cure for our religious systems. In Koinonia we understand that we belong to Him and to one another. We have a shared life to live.

As people encounter this culture, they experience love like never before. They discover a safe place to rise, to fall, to question, and to answer. They experience confrontation in a way that it is redeeming. The are liberated from shame, doubt, and self-degradation. They are also set free from false humility. The "humility" that always projects any good thing in their life as being the Lord rather than themselves. They are invited into a community where love is the government and honor is the rule. They are able to see the Lord in themselves and in others. They find that image and likeness is more than just a nice phrase.

Over the course of the last few days I have meditated on how this culture affected so many of our people. I have wept over the lives that were radically changed. I have laughed over the joy that I witnessed in the face of His people as they were able to let go of the wounds of the past. And I have become convinced that Koinonia is more caught than taught. It is better experienced than explained.

Yesterday morning I received a text from a good friend who was with us for Sunday morning:
"What you guys were talking about yesterday is what I have believed for years. If we all love God and love each other - and tell each other how we feel - and not get hung up on denominations...think how great this world would be?" As I read his text, my heart leapt for joy. Here is a man who has been in church for most of his life. He has understood this way of life but has rarely seen it. On Sunday he was able to experience what he always believed to be true.

Koinonia changes us. It challenges us in ways that just going to church never could. It begs us to tear down the facades. It forces us to see ourselves through a different lens. It points us to a better way of life and a greater unity in relationship. Koinonia changes the way we communicate because we look deeper into one another. Clichés cannot communicate what we see and feel. Programmed responses will not draw from the well within others. EVERYTHING about this life is intentional. This is the life that the Lord wants us to live with one another.

I have seen firsthand the power and effectiveness of Koinonia. I have witnessed the healing it brings. There is no better way for the church to do life together. "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Jesus at the Center

Growing up within a Christian community made a huge impact upon my life. It seemed to me that everyone I knew went to church. Well...at least most of the time. While my hometown had a handful of churches, I think most people either went to the Disciples of Christ Church or the Baptist Church. I share all of this with you because I don't think there was ever a time that my life wasn't influenced in some way by the Gospel or my understanding of God.

With all of that being said, I can't say that Jesus was at the center of everything. I was. Most of the teaching and preaching that I heard growing up seemed to have more to do with me (what I do/do not do) rather than Jesus (what He did/is doing). I wasn't raised in a legalistic culture. THANK GOD! However, I was raised with an understanding that I needed to pray every night and be sure to ask for forgiveness every night. Which I DID. Pretty much without fail. But man...that weighs heavy on the psyche.

Some of you may have been raised the same way. You may be wondering why I would even talk about such a thing in a negative light. What's wrong with asking for forgiveness every night? What's wrong with it isn't the asking. What's wrong with it is the mentality behind it. Once again I was thrust upon myself. Did I pray? Did I ask for forgiveness? Did I include everything? For years I lived on pins and needles. I knew that Jesus died for me. I believed it. BUT...was I really forgiven? Did I follow the right procedures? Was I going to be judged for finishing off the grape juice from the communion platter? There just seemed to be a lot of "what if's" in what I believed. Little did I know at the time was that there were a lot of "what if's" in the people around me.

This is the sad part of the story. Men and Women of faith that I grew up around who were not settled. They went to church. They took communion. They gave in the offering. Some of them sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, took up the offering, and even said amen to the preaching. But they were stuck. They were unsure of the nature of God. They, just like me, heard a lot of preaching/teaching that revolved around them. I don't think any of the pastors or teachers that I sat under meant it. I think they were just passing on what had been taught to them. Back and forth we would go from the love of God to the judgement of God. Back and forth between Heaven and Hell. Back and forth between peace that passes all understanding and be sure that you know that you know that you know you are saved. Can I get off the roller coaster now?

If anyone wonders why I preach the Gospel that I preach today, now you have your answer. If anyone wonders why I put so much emphasis on the finished work of Christ, wonder no more. I have simply come to a place where I realize that Jesus is enough. Salvation is Jesus plus nothing. Everything that needed to be done has been done in Him. All one needs to do is take a leisurely stroll through the New Testament letters to understand that. However, it's what we have been taught in regards to US and WHAT WE DO that keeps us from fully embracing the Good News. By the way, you can test out my theory if you like. The next time you go to church, see how often they talk about Jesus. I'm serious. I know it's a "Christian" church, but you would be amazed. People are often inundated with messages like this: 3 STEPS TO.... 4 PRINCIPLES FOR.... WAYS IN WHICH YOU... Over and over again there is such an emphasis on what you - the individual - bring to the table. What we miss out on is Christ in You the hope of glory.

The following is a list of things that the Bible declares and reveals about Jesus. This is not an exhaustive list but a great starter. I hope it is an encouragement to you.

Jesus...
The Word Made Flesh, The Christ, The Son of the Living God
The Perfect Expression of the Father's Image
The Son of Man (thus the perfect expression of humanity)
The Author & Finisher of Faith
The Last Adam, Firstborn of All Creation, & The Firstborn from the Dead
The Creator & Sustainer of Life
The Summation of All Things
The Redemption, Reconciliation, Restoration, & Regeneration of Humanity
The Mediator of an Everlasting Covenant
The WAY, The TRUTH, The LIFE
As I wrote all of these down, I kept hearing: Jesus - the Father putting all of His eggs in one basket.

The emphasis of the entire New Testament is upon Jesus. In fact, many of the Old Testament prophecies pointed toward His coming, His suffering, and the establishment of a New Covenant. 27 "books" all centered upon one incredible individual. 27 books dedicated to sharing Jesus, explaining all that was accomplished in Him, and helping us to understand faith in Him. 27 books to move us away from an Old Covenant mindset into a New Covenant reality. 27 books that tell me that Jesus is enough. It just seems to me that if we are to be a truly New Testament church that we would be dedicated to the same message and that Jesus would be at the center of all things. Even our performance.

Our faith is not about what we bring to the table. Our faith is about what He brings to the table. It is His grace that empowers me. His love that compels me. His Spirit that guides me. His righteousness that clothes me. His peace that surrounds me. His humility that humbles me. His faith that saves me. His finished work that completes me. Over an over again, these 27 books remind me that even in my life it's all about Jesus. As I have been able to lay down a faith that was centered upon me, I have discovered a faith that is full of joy, full of freedom, and full of incredible security in the Father's love. I have found Him to be faithful (as He promised). I see that He never leaves me nor forsakes me. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is GOOD. And it is this faith that I now share with others.

It's been an incredible journey. I will be forever grateful for how the Lord has opened my eyes. As I move forward, I invite you to join me. Join me in seeing all that He has accomplished. Join me in the freedom that belongs to the sons of God. Join me in the dance, the "perichoresis" of oneness, fellowship, and relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There is more to faith than you have realized. Jesus at the center makes all the difference. Be blessed.

In Honor of Purim

Yesterday marked the celebration of Purim among our Jewish brethren. A holiday that remembers the willingness of Esther to put her life on the line to preserve her people. In honor of Purim, I want to celebrate the strong women within the church.

Over the years I have heard people (mostly men) say that the lack of men within the church necessitates that women step into particular roles. I disagree. These women step into these roles because they are gifted, anointed, and fully equipped by the Father. The Holy Spirit, throughout history, has used women in profound ways. It's not the lack of men that necessitates women stepping forward. It's the will of the Father who uses women "for such a time as this."

One of the strongest women of faith that I knew was my Great Aunt Zula (Nana as we called her). I can still remember the times our pastor would call on her to pray. She was faithful, full of love, and graced with the Lord's compassion. I will always be grateful for her, and I will always be grateful for a pastor that was willing to allow her to participate in the service.

I realize that in 2015 there are many more women pastors, deacons, teachers, and worship leaders. However, it wasn't that long ago that women only served the church in much smaller roles. Typically limited to working with children (or other women), these ladies faithfully served the church. They did what they could to make a difference in the lives of others. There were those who stepped up into greater leadership roles, much to the dismay of male church leaders. They were ridiculed, protested, and mocked. They endured it because they believed that the One who called them was faithful. Other women simply departed to the mission field. It was on the field that they felt the equality that the Lord always wanted for them.

In Galatians 3:28 we read that in Christ all divisions are broken down. There is no such thing as Jew or Gentile, Slave or Free, nor Male or Female. We are all ONE in Christ. For years I was ignorant of this truth. I saw the church as a male dominant organization. I saw men as the only reasonable leadership. Thankfully, the Lord has delivered me from this type of thinking. I have grown to appreciate the various roles that women have filled within the church. I see their heart for the Lord. I recognize their value to the Body.

For those who would decry this type of thinking. Those who would try to use the Bible to argue against a woman's ability to speak or lead in a church. I would simply ask that you do your homework. Get into the original language. See those passages of Scripture in context. I can assure you that the Apostle Paul did not promote the disparagement of women. He often worked alongside of strong women in the church. Leaders in their own right. Apostles. Prophets. Deacons. He knew their strength. If there was any caution that he gave to the women it was in light of particular situations within the church. I believe he would be saddened by the way we have kept women from fulfilling their God given role. I think he would be bothered by the fact that we used his words to do it.

I have a friend whose grandmother was a pastor. She was a pastor when women pastors were unheard of. You cannot imagine the difficulty she experienced. Undaunted, she served faithfully. I honor her for her bravery. I am blessed by her willingness to endure. Her faith and her devotion to the Lord is to be emulated. It's women like her, like others that I have encountered, that have helped the church become what it is today. They understood our oneness in Christ. Through much tribulation (most of it coming from their own brothers and sisters in Christ), they have overcome the ignorance of others.

In honor of Purim, I honor the strong women whom I have encountered in the church throughout my lifetime. I honor those whom I walk with today. I see you. I celebrate you. I rejoice that we are one in Christ and members of the same Body. I'm grateful that my journey with the Lord has allowed our paths to cross and/or that we have been able to walk together. I am blessed to know you.

Encountering Him...

The Gospel of Luke records a story about two disciples walking down the road to Emmaus. Their encounter with the Lord gives us something to think about. Encountering Him may be different than what you expect.

Within the Gospels we actually read of two encounters the followers of Jesus had with Him that were out of the ordinary. Though they spoke with Him and were in His presence, they did not know it was the Lord. For Mary, it was when He spoke her name that she realized it was Him. For the disciples on the Emmaus road their eyes were opened to see Him before He left. Many have wondered why we read these accounts in Scripture. Some have wondered if Jesus looked differently. I just wonder if it was part of His ministry in the Spirit.

Things like this often go against our logic. Most people would just rather Jesus do the same thing over and over again. If only there were some steps to take, some principles to apply, or some directions to follow. But where is the relationship in that?

I love what the disciples said after they realized it was Jesus who walked with them: "Did not our hearts burn within us...?"
I love it because it helps us in our own encounters with Him.
It encourages me to recognize what I feel, and what I sense in my own spirit.

How have you encountered the Lord? How have you seen Him? Did He speak your name? Did you heart burn within you? Regardless of what your experience/encounter was like, I want you to be encouraged. The Lord wants to encounter you as much as you want to encounter Him (if not more). The Bible is full of people encountering Him at different times and in different places. Some of them were praying. Some of them were simply going through life. Some of them expected the Lord to move. Some of them weren't expecting anything.

The more we understand that the Lord wants us to encounter Him, the more we can move out of religious exercise and into genuine relationship. We recognize that faith in Christ brings us into something that is real. It also keeps us from simply trying to appease a distant deity. We realize that He is in us, with us, and for us.

Over the years I have known people who have had a physical encounter with the Lord. Others saw Him in visions or dreams. Some have heard Him speak or heard Him through someone else. Their encounters challenge me. They compel me to know the Lord personally. They remind me that the Lord is not far from any of us. Jesus promised His disciples that He would manifest Himself to them. You are no different.

How many of us have read the Scripture for an encounter with Him?
How many of us have prayed believing that we would encounter Him there?
How many of us in worship have experienced His presence, or seen His activity among us?
Or how many of us have been in conversation with others about the Lord and His presence became strong among us?
This is all a part of our journey with Him. It's a journey where He is very much involved. He has crossed all worlds to be with us. The Spirit of the Lord convinces us of this reality. He encourages us. He manifests Himself.

Encountering Him cannot be mapped out. It looks different for every person. We are unique individuals and the Lord meets us accordingly. The exciting part about this is that when we begin to recognize Him among us, then we can learn how to encounter Him with one another. The Church becomes something greater than a meeting center to learn a lesson. We become a Body where the Head is clearly seen.

May your heart burn within you for His presence. May you hear Him speak while on the road. May you hear Him call your name. On encounter with the Lord can change everything. Be blessed!!!

The Beautiful Gospel

“He [Jesus] fought and conquered. On the one hand, He was man who struggled for His fathers and through His obedience cancelled their disobedience. On the other hand, He bound the strong one and freed the weak and bestowed salvation on His handiwork by abolishing sin. For He is our compassionate and merciful Lord who loves mankind ... Had not man conquered man's adversary, the enemy would not have been conquered justly. Again, had it not been God who bestowed salvation we would not possess it securely.”
― Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 3

Today's blog is titled: The Beautiful Gospel. Why? Because the Gospel changes Everything!!! It is within the Gospel that we discover life, love, and liberty. The announcement of Jesus' coming (His Incarnation) was considered by the Angels, "Good Tidings of Great Joy." When Jesus was preparing His disciples for the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Matthew 24), He stated that "this Gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to the nations..." Gospel means "good tidings" and "the announcement of good news."

Over the last couple of weeks, I have not been able to get away from the beauty of this message. I even talked about it with you last Friday. Who could have believed this is what the Father had in mind? Even though the Prophets saw it coming, I don't think they even understood how BIG his coming would be. I also don't believe they understood all that He would accomplish.

Irenaeus, the church father quoted above, did a masterful job of talking about the incarnation of Christ, along with His vicarious suffering. He understood fully the finished work of Christ. His writings, Against Heresies, was meant to guard the faith and the beautiful gospel against the attacks of Gnosticism. It was the heart of this church father to preserve this wonderful good news. A fight that continues to this day. He saw within Jesus the summation of all things. He recognized within Jesus' finished work all that was needed for the salvation of humanity. And within the Gospel, He saw the unconditional love of God.

Read what author and speaker Brad Jersak has to say about the Gospel and our proclamation of it: "the Gospel is that Jesus is the Savior of the World, the Restorer of Hope, the Perfection of Love, and the One who would embrace all and redeem everyone from our enslavement to Satan, sin and death. Telling the world this fabulous news and inviting them to it is integral to how Christ is restoring the cosmos."

He is the Savior of the World
Is there any doubt that what Jesus did, He did for all of humanity?

He is the Restorer of Hope
All that was lost, all that we need, all that we could ever long for is in Him.

He is the Perfection of Love
He is love personified. God is love and Jesus embodied love. He gave Himself in spite of rejection, abuse, and shame.

He is the One who would embrace all and redeem everyone
This is a done deal. It's our recognition of this reality that allows us to experience it.

One of the reasons that I quoted an early church father today is because I want you to see how those closest to the Apostles understood the Gospel. They saw within the Gospel the hope of all humanity. They recognized Jesus' sacrifice as ONCE and FOR ALL. They saw within this Gospel the rescue, recovery, and restoration of mankind. All the failings of the First Adam were done away with in the Last Adam (Jesus).

As I type these words, I realize that so many among us may find this as a foreign gospel. Something that sounds too good to be true. Part of the problem is our understanding of Scripture. Because so many people are content to read the English rather than look into the Hebrew and Greek, we miss out on the power of so many words. We miss out on the tense of verbs. We miss out on the right pronouns. All things that matter to our understanding of the faith. Does the "faith of Christ" differ from "faith in Christ"? I believe so. Does a verb in the past tense differ from one in the present tense? I believe so. Does our understanding about being "born again" change when we see it in the original language "born from above"? Does our understanding change when we realize it is in a passive tense (meaning it is something that happens to an individual rather than something that an individual makes happen)? I believe so. All of these things matter. Which is why the early church fathers fought so hard to protect the beautiful gospel from those who would seek to do it harm.

The Beautiful Gospel is just that, It's BEAUTIFUL!!! It's full of wonder. It may sound to good to be true, but it is true nonetheless. This is our hope. This is where we find our value to the Father. This is where His heart for humanity is on full display. This is THE GOOD NEWS that is to be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to the nations. God is Good. God is Love. God has reconciled us to Himself. Be reconciled. Take down your walls. Remove any mindsets and irrational thinking. Repent (change your mind) and Believe that He is for you, not against you. You are included in the Father's love.